Automatic revolver-firearm.



AVAILABLE COPY Patented Dec. 3, I90l. W. J. WRITING.

AUTOMATIC REVOLVER FIREARM.

(Application filed my 27, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

i tent d iiec. 3, I901.

W. J. WHITING.

AUTOMATIC REVOLVER FIREARM.

(Application filed May 27, 1901.)

2 Sheets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

Units firarns Perm-tr mace.

\YILLIAM JOHN VVl-HTING, OF IIANDSWORTH, ENGLAND.

AUTOMA'HG REVOLVER-FIREARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 688,217, dated December 190 Application filed May 27, 1901. .Serial No. 62,105. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM JOHN WHrr- ING, works manager, a subject of the King.

spring peg over which the said channel slides and works, and,secondl y, to provide improved means for obtaining the direct alinement of the chambers of the cylinder in succession with the barrel and hammer and for releasing the cylinder when the weapon is closed,'in conjunction with means for insuring the rotation of the cylinder in the proper direction.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the revolver. Fig. 2 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken'upon lines :10 00, Fig. 2. Figs. at and 5 are similar views upon the dotted lines as of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and in longitudinal vertical section, of a portion of the revolver.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said figures.

In the Webley-Fosbery automatic revolver represented in the said figures the cylinder a, with its extractor, (not shown,) is rotatably mounted upon a pivot-sleeve, as'usual, and the barrel-strap Z) of the barrel 1) is locked to the standing breech c by an ordinary \pivoted bridle-fastener cl, while the barrel Z) with the body 6, standing breech c, and cylinder 0. and hammer mechanism are arranged to slide bodily rearward upon a stationary bed gunder the influence of the recoil after each dis- "charge for recocking the hammerh and parsurmount-s the handle or gripj and has the trigger k and its mechanism located within it. The zigzag cylinder-race a, comprising forwardly-sloping channels ct 'and backwardlysloping channels a which Work successively straight channels a opening rea'rwardly and disposed in the same axial line as the chambers a, while from its forward angles a there extend other channels a opening to the front of the cylinder and disposed alternately between the said chambers, which admits of these channels being made deeper, both to lighten the cylinder and to provide ample clearance for the direction-stud, hereinafter described.

Located within a longitudinal sinking b in the under side of the barrel-strap I) is an arrangement for insuring the alinement of the chambers with the barrel and hammer and a device to act in conjunction with the cylinder-rotating mechanism for compelling the said cylinder to turn or move around in the proper direction after each discharge and recoil. wThese means consist of a long bladespring m, fixed at its middle by a screw m to the rib and with the opposite free ends fitted, respectively, with depending studs 0 and 1). The tip of the rearward free end m ex tends into the eye or opening I) at the end of the extension-rib and is arranged to overhang ashoulder 0', formed in the top part of the face of the standing breech, while the stud o,

carried-#by this rearward end, is adapted to engage (when the weapon is opened) with one or other ,of the straight channels (.1 extending from the rearward angles a of the zigzag race a, and thus retain the cylinder with one of its chambers in alinement with the barrel; but on the revolver being closed the said tip m of the spring-limb 'm is made to impinge against the shoulder c in the face of the standing breech, so as to lift the stud o from out of the channel wherein it previously engaged, and thereby liberates the cylinder, which is free to be rotated on recoil IOO by the action of aportion a of the race a being constrained to travel over the fixed stud z'. The direction-stud p on the forward free end m of the bladespring in has a straight shoulder 19 on the one side and ah inclined face on the other side so as to admit of the cylinder wiping freely past this stud, which is the proper direction in which the cylinder is required to rotate (on the flat-bottomed race a, being made to work over the fixed peg 1') in order to bring the chambers successively around to the barrel; but when the said stud 2) drops or snaps into one of the channels the straight shoulder p of the stud engages with the side of the said channel, and thereby hoth locks the cylinder against rotation in the contrary direction and also sets or secures it in such a position relative to the fixed peg i as to insure that on the next discharge and oacltward recoil of the cylinder with the other movable parts of the pistol one of the forwardly-directed angular portions or channels a of the zigzag race will pass over the stud for converting the rectilinear movement of the cylinder into a partial rotary movement in the properdirection for bringing a loaded chamber up to the barrel and hammer, it being understood that unless some such locking device as above described is used in conjunction with the special form of race and fixed peg constituting this part of my invention one of the hackwardly-directed channels u might inadvertently pass over the peg, which would cause the cylinder to turn in the wrong direction and present an empty or discharged chamher to the hammer.

Having fully described my invention, What i desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a revolver, a cylinder provided with a zigzag race, a fixed peg on the arm of the frame and operating in said race, in comhination with a catch device for determining and setting the position of the cylinder relative to the said peg, substantially as herein shown and described.

in automatic revolver-firearms of the type set forth; the combination with the zig- Zag cylinder-race on the cylinder and the fixed peg 0n the frame, of a cylinder direction catch or device, consisting of a spring-limb carrying a stud with an inclined or wiping face and a flat shoulder forengaging suitable peripheral channels or sinkings on the cylinder, which is permitted to rotate or wipe under, the catch in one direction but is blocked against rotation in the contrary direction, whereby the said cylinder is set or affixed in such a position relative to the fixed peg" as to insure its rotation in the proper direction substantially asherein described and also as set forth.

3. In an automatic revolver-firearm of the type set forth, the combination with the zigzag cylinder-race on the cylinder and the fixed peg on the frame, of a catch device for determining and setting the cylinder relative to the peg, and. a cylinder-aiming device adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with the cylinderwhen the revolveris opened and closed, respectively.

a. In automatic revolver-firearms of the type set forth; the combination with the rotailing cylinder arranged to make a backwardsliding movement iinder recoil a zigzag race thereon having channels of nniiorm depth, a fixed peg on the body over which said race travels, a spring-limb carrying a cylinder direction-catch, and peripheral channels or sinliings on the said cylinder adapted to be engaged by such catch; of acylinder-alinement device comprising a spring--limb carrying a stud adapted to engage with peripheral channels on the cylinder arranged parallel with the axis of the chambers, with the carrier-limb of the said alinement-stud being extended into engagement with an abutment on the standing breech, whereby the stud is lifted clear of the cylinder when the weapon is closed, substantially as herein described and also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NIlLl'JIAl/i JOHN vVl-HTENG. Witnesses:

HYL SKERRETT, ARTHUR T. SADLER. 

